George Korch - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by George Korch

Research paper thumbnail of Geographic Dissemination of Tick-borne Zoonoses

... records of approximately 100 tick-borne viruses (Karabatsos, 1985) and cross-referencing thes... more ... records of approximately 100 tick-borne viruses (Karabatsos, 1985) and cross-referencing these ... the geographic strains of virus which constitute Crimean-Congo hermorrhagic fever virus and would ... territory, would be less likely to disseminate ticks beyond the borders of these ...

Research paper thumbnail of Absence of Mycoplasma Contamination in the Anthrax Vaccine

Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2002

Mycoplasma contamination of the licensed anthrax vaccine administered to military personnel has b... more Mycoplasma contamination of the licensed anthrax vaccine administered to military personnel has been suggested as a possible cause of Persian Gulf illness. Vaccine samples tested by nonmilitary laboratories were negative for viable mycoplasma and mycoplasma DNA and did not support its survival. Mycoplasma contamination of anthrax vaccine should not be considered a possible cause of illness. nthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (AVA, BioPort Corporation, Lansing, MI) is a licensed vaccine for anthrax that was administered to approximately 150,000 U.S. military personnel during the Persian Gulf War. It was used more recently as part of a comprehensive vaccination policy for Department of Defense (DOD) service members. The vaccine, which is administered subcutaneously over an 18-month schedule, is derived from sterile, acellular filtrates of microaerophilic cultures of the avirulent, nonencapsulated V770-NP1-R strain of Bacillus anthracis. The cultures are grown in a sterile synthetic liquid medium devoid of enriched supplements such as serum. The filtrates predominantly contain the protective antigen of anthrax. The final vaccine formulation contains protective antigen adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide (<2.4 mg/0.5 mL) as an adjuvant. Formaldehyde (<0.02%) is added as a stabilizer and benzethonium chloride (0.0025%) as a preservative. The final product is checked for potency and safety according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. Approximately 1.9 million doses of AVA were administered in the United States from January 1990 through August 2000 (1), with 1,544 adverse reactions (0.08% of all injections) reported through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (2). Most of these adverse reactions were limited to the injection site; local hypersensitivity, edema, and pain were the most commonly reported, although 76 (4.9%) of the adverse reactions were classified as serious.

Research paper thumbnail of Biological Weapons Defense

Humana Press eBooks, 2005

Due diligence has been taken by the publishers, editors, and authors of this book to assure the a... more Due diligence has been taken by the publishers, editors, and authors of this book to assure the accuracy of the information published and to describe generally accepted practices. The contributors herein have carefully checked to ensure that the drug selections and dosages set forth in this text are accurate and in accord with the standards accepted at the time of publication. Notwithstanding, as new research, changes in government regulations, and knowledge from clinical experience relating to drug therapy and drug reactions constantly occurs, the reader is advised to check the product information provided by the manufacturer of each drug for any change in dosages or for additional warnings and contraindications. This is of utmost importance when the recommended drug herein is a new or infrequently used drug. It is the responsibility of the health care provider to ascertain the Food and Drug Administration status of each drug or device used in their clinical practice. The publisher, editors, and authors are not responsible for errors or omissions or for any consequences from the application of the information presented in this book and make no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the contents in this publication. This publication is printed on acid-free paper.

Research paper thumbnail of Biological weapons defense: infectious disease and counterbioterrorism

Humana Press eBooks, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Body Mass as a Measure of Body Size in Small Mammals

Journal of Mammalogy, Aug 18, 1989

... CHARLOTTE ISKJAER, NORMAN A. SLADE, JAMES E. CHILDS, GREGORY E. GLASS ... Fecundity and postw... more ... CHARLOTTE ISKJAER, NORMAN A. SLADE, JAMES E. CHILDS, GREGORY E. GLASS ... Fecundity and postweaning survival of young are related to maternal body size in Peromyscus maniculatus (Myers and Master, 1983), and the survival ability of nestling Peromyscus ...

Research paper thumbnail of Isolation and Initial Characterization of a Newfound Hantavirus from California

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative Field Evaluation of Permethrin and Deet-Treated Military Uniforms for Personal Protection Against Ticks (Acari)

Journal of Medical Entomology, Sep 1, 1990

The effectiveness of permethrin-impregnated (PI) versus permethrin-sprayed (PS) military battle d... more The effectiveness of permethrin-impregnated (PI) versus permethrin-sprayed (PS) military battle dress uniforms was evaluated in protecting soldiers from tick bite. At the same time, an extended-duration formulation of N.N-diethyl-m-toluamide (deet), when applied to clothing only, was evaluated and compared with the permethrin-treated uniforms. Testing consisted of exposing subjects, clothed in either untreated or the variously treated uniforms, to field populations of ticks during a series of 30-min field trials over a period of 21 d during July and August 1988. Permethrin, applied as either a spray (0.5% [AI]), or as an impregnant (0.125% [AI]/cm 2), was more effective than deet (33.25% [AI]) applied to clothing only in protecting individuals from tick bite. The mean numbers of ticks on deettreated, PI, and PS uniforms were 60, 97, and 98% lower, respectively, than on untreated uniforms against all encountered life stages of Amblyomma americanum (L.), Dermacentor variabilis (Say), and Ixodes dammini Spielman, Clifford, Piesman and Corwin.

Research paper thumbnail of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection and House Mouse (Mus Musculus) Distribution in Urban Baltimore

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Jul 1, 1992

Four hundred eighty house mice (Mus musculus) were trapped primarily from urban sites in Baltimor... more Four hundred eighty house mice (Mus musculus) were trapped primarily from urban sites in Baltimore, Maryland from 1984 to 1989 and tested for antibody to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). The majority of mice (95%) were trapped in residences at two city locations (n = 260), or in an urban park (n = 196); five additional sites were sampled. Overall, 9.0% of the mice were LCMV antibody positive and infected animals were obtained from six of eight sites, including all three of the primary city sites, where the prevalence varied significantly (3.9-13.4%). The location with the highest prevalence was an inner city residential site where positive mice were found significantly clustered within blocks and households. In this location, LCMV antibody prevalence was also significantly correlated with estimates of mouse density within individual blocks. The focal nature of LCMV infection in house mice may result from contact or vertical transmission of virus in conjunction with the highly structured social system of mice, which promotes inbreeding and limited dispersal.

Research paper thumbnail of Definition and Overview of Emerging Threats

Humana Press eBooks, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of NBACC's Scientific Research and Operational Posture During the 2020–2021 COVID-19 Pandemic

Applied Biosafety, Mar 3, 2022

Introduction: The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) is a national r... more Introduction: The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) is a national resource established to understand the scientific basis of the risk posed by biological threats, and to analyze evidentiary material from bioterror or biocrime events. Like many other U.S. research institutions, the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and rapid development of the COVID-19 pandemic allowed only a few short weeks of preparations before infectious disease controls could be implemented. Due to the nature of its mission, the NBACC must be available on a 24/7 readiness posture to support bioforensic casework from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It also serves to provide the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with key scientific data to assess the hazard from biological agents, especially in this instance to inform the national response to COVID-19. These factors caused the operational tempo to significantly increase. Methods: To accomplish our mission during a national emergency, laboratory staffing levels needed to be maintained at prepandemic levels. As a result, the Battelle National Biodefense Institute (BNBI) leadership took significant actions to prevent COVID-19 exposure and transmission within the workforce. These multiple actions included engineering changes to the facility, stockpiling of personal protective equipment and consumable products, educating the staff on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, reducing the population of the nonlaboratory staff, and the completion of a comprehensive risk assessment to quantify the risk of COVID-19 infection for all NBACC staff. Conclusion: These early actions, used in tandem, were successful in maintaining a healthy and stable workforce so that BNBI's research objectives could be met.

Research paper thumbnail of Geographical Distribution and Age Related Prevalence of Antibody to Hantaan-Like Virus in Rat Populations of Baltimore, Maryland, USA *

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Mar 1, 1985

Recent studies indicate that domestic rats (Rattus norvegicus) from harbor-side areas within port... more Recent studies indicate that domestic rats (Rattus norvegicus) from harbor-side areas within port cities of the United States are infected with a Hantaan-like virus. The geographical distribution of seropositive rats may be extremely localized within these urban environments. We surveyed four widely separated residential sites distant from the harbor within Baltimore, Maryland, USA, to determine the geographical distribution and prevalence of antibody to Hantaan-like virus in rats from urban areas of high human population density. Captured rats were weighed and examined for sexual maturity to allow some estimation of age, and their sera were examined by indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay for antibody to Hantaan virus. Seropositive rats were found at all four sites within Baltimore. Increasing antibody prevalence and high titers were associated with increasing rat weight and sexual maturity. Our results show that infection of rats by a Hantaan-like virus is widespread in Baltimore. Antibody in rats may be due to infections acquired during maturation or the delayed seroconversion of rats infected prior to weaning.

Research paper thumbnail of Robust statisitics for spatial analysis: the center of activity

Research paper thumbnail of Seasonal and Habitat Differences in Growth Rates of Wild Rattus norvegicus

Journal of Mammalogy, 1988

... South-western Nat., 25:215-224. HICKMAN, GC, AND LN BROWN. 1973. ... GREGORY E. GLASS, GEORGE... more ... South-western Nat., 25:215-224. HICKMAN, GC, AND LN BROWN. 1973. ... GREGORY E. GLASS, GEORGE W. KORCH, AND JAMES E. CHILDS Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205 ...

Research paper thumbnail of CLOSED SESSION Teleconference and Webinar by Invitation ONLY Wednesday, May 23 2012 1:00pm - 3:00pm Eastern Time Agenda Welcome and Introductions 1:00 pm - 1:15 pm Call to Order and Roll Call

Research paper thumbnail of NBACC's Scientific Research and Operational Posture During the 2020–2021 COVID-19 Pandemic

Applied Biosafety, 2022

Introduction: The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) is a national r... more Introduction: The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) is a national resource established to understand the scientific basis of the risk posed by biological threats, and to analyze evidentiary material from bioterror or biocrime events. Like many other U.S. research institutions, the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and rapid development of the COVID-19 pandemic allowed only a few short weeks of preparations before infectious disease controls could be implemented. Due to the nature of its mission, the NBACC must be available on a 24/7 readiness posture to support bioforensic casework from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It also serves to provide the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with key scientific data to assess the hazard from biological agents, especially in this instance to inform the national response to COVID-19. These factors caused the operational tempo to significantly increase. Methods: To accomplish our mission during a national emergency, laboratory staffing levels needed to be maintained at prepandemic levels. As a result, the Battelle National Biodefense Institute (BNBI) leadership took significant actions to prevent COVID-19 exposure and transmission within the workforce. These multiple actions included engineering changes to the facility, stockpiling of personal protective equipment and consumable products, educating the staff on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, reducing the population of the nonlaboratory staff, and the completion of a comprehensive risk assessment to quantify the risk of COVID-19 infection for all NBACC staff. Conclusion: These early actions, used in tandem, were successful in maintaining a healthy and stable workforce so that BNBI's research objectives could be met.

Research paper thumbnail of What Can History Teach Us about the Next Pandemic

Research paper thumbnail of Evidence of Human Infection with a Rat-Associated Hantavirus in Baltimore, Maryland

American Journal of Epidemiology, 1988

Human sera obtained from two sources in Baltimore were tested for antibodies against a Hantavirus... more Human sera obtained from two sources in Baltimore were tested for antibodies against a Hantavirus by a variety of techniques. Four persons out of 1,788 had hantaviral antibody as demonstrated by immunofluorescent assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and neutralizing assay. Neutralizing antibody titrations against three test viruses indicated that infections were caused by a rat-associated virus. Medical histories of two subjects indicated life-long residence in Baltimore and an absence of foreign travel, implicating a local source of infection.

Research paper thumbnail of Epizootiology of Hantavirus Infections in Baltimore: Isolation of a Virus from Norway Rats, and Characteristics of Infected Rat Populations

American Journal of Epidemiology, 1987

Rats trapped from 14 locations in Baltimore, Maryland, were shown to have antibody to Hantavirus.... more Rats trapped from 14 locations in Baltimore, Maryland, were shown to have antibody to Hantavirus. Antibody prevalence rates were higher in residential locations than in parks. Infected rats were obtained continuously over a six-year period from 1980-1985 at five locations, indicating the enzootic nature of this infection in urban rats in the United States. Prevalence of antibody and geometric mean titers increased with rat mass and sexual maturity, suggesting that infections in rats are acquired through age-related mechanisms. Three isolates of Hantavirus were obtained from rats. One of these isolates was shown by serologic tests and monoclonal antibody reactivity patterns to be similar, if not identical, to rat virus previously obtained from Philadelphia. The presence of rats in many urban settings and the high prevalence of Hantavirus infection in this species suggest that human exposure to this virus is occurring in the United States, although human disease from this exposure has not been recognized.

Research paper thumbnail of Body Mass as a Measure of Body Size in Small Mammals

Journal of Mammalogy, 1989

... CHARLOTTE ISKJAER, NORMAN A. SLADE, JAMES E. CHILDS, GREGORY E. GLASS ... Fecundity and postw... more ... CHARLOTTE ISKJAER, NORMAN A. SLADE, JAMES E. CHILDS, GREGORY E. GLASS ... Fecundity and postweaning survival of young are related to maternal body size in Peromyscus maniculatus (Myers and Master, 1983), and the survival ability of nestling Peromyscus ...

Research paper thumbnail of Association of intraspecific wounding with hantaviral infection in wild rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Epidemiology and Infection, 1988

SUMMARYThe potential for hantaviral transmission among wild Norway rats by wounding associated wi... more SUMMARYThe potential for hantaviral transmission among wild Norway rats by wounding associated with aggressive interactions was evaluated using a prospective sero-epidemiological study coupled with a mark-release-recapture survey. There was a significant association between an animal's serological status and the presence of wounds. Longitudinal studies of marked and released animals showed sero-conversion between captures was associated with wounding between captures more often (33%) than expected by chance, while unwounded animals seroconverted less often (8%) than expected. Typically, less than a 5% difference was found when comparing the incidence of seroconversion with the predicted rate based on wounding and seroprevalence. Infection was highly associated with the onset of sexual maturity and aggression but decoupled from rat age and the length of environmental exposure. Seroconversions occurred at times most associated with aggressive encounters and least associated with a...

Research paper thumbnail of Geographic Dissemination of Tick-borne Zoonoses

... records of approximately 100 tick-borne viruses (Karabatsos, 1985) and cross-referencing thes... more ... records of approximately 100 tick-borne viruses (Karabatsos, 1985) and cross-referencing these ... the geographic strains of virus which constitute Crimean-Congo hermorrhagic fever virus and would ... territory, would be less likely to disseminate ticks beyond the borders of these ...

Research paper thumbnail of Absence of Mycoplasma Contamination in the Anthrax Vaccine

Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2002

Mycoplasma contamination of the licensed anthrax vaccine administered to military personnel has b... more Mycoplasma contamination of the licensed anthrax vaccine administered to military personnel has been suggested as a possible cause of Persian Gulf illness. Vaccine samples tested by nonmilitary laboratories were negative for viable mycoplasma and mycoplasma DNA and did not support its survival. Mycoplasma contamination of anthrax vaccine should not be considered a possible cause of illness. nthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (AVA, BioPort Corporation, Lansing, MI) is a licensed vaccine for anthrax that was administered to approximately 150,000 U.S. military personnel during the Persian Gulf War. It was used more recently as part of a comprehensive vaccination policy for Department of Defense (DOD) service members. The vaccine, which is administered subcutaneously over an 18-month schedule, is derived from sterile, acellular filtrates of microaerophilic cultures of the avirulent, nonencapsulated V770-NP1-R strain of Bacillus anthracis. The cultures are grown in a sterile synthetic liquid medium devoid of enriched supplements such as serum. The filtrates predominantly contain the protective antigen of anthrax. The final vaccine formulation contains protective antigen adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide (<2.4 mg/0.5 mL) as an adjuvant. Formaldehyde (<0.02%) is added as a stabilizer and benzethonium chloride (0.0025%) as a preservative. The final product is checked for potency and safety according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. Approximately 1.9 million doses of AVA were administered in the United States from January 1990 through August 2000 (1), with 1,544 adverse reactions (0.08% of all injections) reported through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (2). Most of these adverse reactions were limited to the injection site; local hypersensitivity, edema, and pain were the most commonly reported, although 76 (4.9%) of the adverse reactions were classified as serious.

Research paper thumbnail of Biological Weapons Defense

Humana Press eBooks, 2005

Due diligence has been taken by the publishers, editors, and authors of this book to assure the a... more Due diligence has been taken by the publishers, editors, and authors of this book to assure the accuracy of the information published and to describe generally accepted practices. The contributors herein have carefully checked to ensure that the drug selections and dosages set forth in this text are accurate and in accord with the standards accepted at the time of publication. Notwithstanding, as new research, changes in government regulations, and knowledge from clinical experience relating to drug therapy and drug reactions constantly occurs, the reader is advised to check the product information provided by the manufacturer of each drug for any change in dosages or for additional warnings and contraindications. This is of utmost importance when the recommended drug herein is a new or infrequently used drug. It is the responsibility of the health care provider to ascertain the Food and Drug Administration status of each drug or device used in their clinical practice. The publisher, editors, and authors are not responsible for errors or omissions or for any consequences from the application of the information presented in this book and make no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the contents in this publication. This publication is printed on acid-free paper.

Research paper thumbnail of Biological weapons defense: infectious disease and counterbioterrorism

Humana Press eBooks, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Body Mass as a Measure of Body Size in Small Mammals

Journal of Mammalogy, Aug 18, 1989

... CHARLOTTE ISKJAER, NORMAN A. SLADE, JAMES E. CHILDS, GREGORY E. GLASS ... Fecundity and postw... more ... CHARLOTTE ISKJAER, NORMAN A. SLADE, JAMES E. CHILDS, GREGORY E. GLASS ... Fecundity and postweaning survival of young are related to maternal body size in Peromyscus maniculatus (Myers and Master, 1983), and the survival ability of nestling Peromyscus ...

Research paper thumbnail of Isolation and Initial Characterization of a Newfound Hantavirus from California

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative Field Evaluation of Permethrin and Deet-Treated Military Uniforms for Personal Protection Against Ticks (Acari)

Journal of Medical Entomology, Sep 1, 1990

The effectiveness of permethrin-impregnated (PI) versus permethrin-sprayed (PS) military battle d... more The effectiveness of permethrin-impregnated (PI) versus permethrin-sprayed (PS) military battle dress uniforms was evaluated in protecting soldiers from tick bite. At the same time, an extended-duration formulation of N.N-diethyl-m-toluamide (deet), when applied to clothing only, was evaluated and compared with the permethrin-treated uniforms. Testing consisted of exposing subjects, clothed in either untreated or the variously treated uniforms, to field populations of ticks during a series of 30-min field trials over a period of 21 d during July and August 1988. Permethrin, applied as either a spray (0.5% [AI]), or as an impregnant (0.125% [AI]/cm 2), was more effective than deet (33.25% [AI]) applied to clothing only in protecting individuals from tick bite. The mean numbers of ticks on deettreated, PI, and PS uniforms were 60, 97, and 98% lower, respectively, than on untreated uniforms against all encountered life stages of Amblyomma americanum (L.), Dermacentor variabilis (Say), and Ixodes dammini Spielman, Clifford, Piesman and Corwin.

Research paper thumbnail of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection and House Mouse (Mus Musculus) Distribution in Urban Baltimore

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Jul 1, 1992

Four hundred eighty house mice (Mus musculus) were trapped primarily from urban sites in Baltimor... more Four hundred eighty house mice (Mus musculus) were trapped primarily from urban sites in Baltimore, Maryland from 1984 to 1989 and tested for antibody to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). The majority of mice (95%) were trapped in residences at two city locations (n = 260), or in an urban park (n = 196); five additional sites were sampled. Overall, 9.0% of the mice were LCMV antibody positive and infected animals were obtained from six of eight sites, including all three of the primary city sites, where the prevalence varied significantly (3.9-13.4%). The location with the highest prevalence was an inner city residential site where positive mice were found significantly clustered within blocks and households. In this location, LCMV antibody prevalence was also significantly correlated with estimates of mouse density within individual blocks. The focal nature of LCMV infection in house mice may result from contact or vertical transmission of virus in conjunction with the highly structured social system of mice, which promotes inbreeding and limited dispersal.

Research paper thumbnail of Definition and Overview of Emerging Threats

Humana Press eBooks, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of NBACC's Scientific Research and Operational Posture During the 2020–2021 COVID-19 Pandemic

Applied Biosafety, Mar 3, 2022

Introduction: The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) is a national r... more Introduction: The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) is a national resource established to understand the scientific basis of the risk posed by biological threats, and to analyze evidentiary material from bioterror or biocrime events. Like many other U.S. research institutions, the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and rapid development of the COVID-19 pandemic allowed only a few short weeks of preparations before infectious disease controls could be implemented. Due to the nature of its mission, the NBACC must be available on a 24/7 readiness posture to support bioforensic casework from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It also serves to provide the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with key scientific data to assess the hazard from biological agents, especially in this instance to inform the national response to COVID-19. These factors caused the operational tempo to significantly increase. Methods: To accomplish our mission during a national emergency, laboratory staffing levels needed to be maintained at prepandemic levels. As a result, the Battelle National Biodefense Institute (BNBI) leadership took significant actions to prevent COVID-19 exposure and transmission within the workforce. These multiple actions included engineering changes to the facility, stockpiling of personal protective equipment and consumable products, educating the staff on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, reducing the population of the nonlaboratory staff, and the completion of a comprehensive risk assessment to quantify the risk of COVID-19 infection for all NBACC staff. Conclusion: These early actions, used in tandem, were successful in maintaining a healthy and stable workforce so that BNBI's research objectives could be met.

Research paper thumbnail of Geographical Distribution and Age Related Prevalence of Antibody to Hantaan-Like Virus in Rat Populations of Baltimore, Maryland, USA *

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Mar 1, 1985

Recent studies indicate that domestic rats (Rattus norvegicus) from harbor-side areas within port... more Recent studies indicate that domestic rats (Rattus norvegicus) from harbor-side areas within port cities of the United States are infected with a Hantaan-like virus. The geographical distribution of seropositive rats may be extremely localized within these urban environments. We surveyed four widely separated residential sites distant from the harbor within Baltimore, Maryland, USA, to determine the geographical distribution and prevalence of antibody to Hantaan-like virus in rats from urban areas of high human population density. Captured rats were weighed and examined for sexual maturity to allow some estimation of age, and their sera were examined by indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay for antibody to Hantaan virus. Seropositive rats were found at all four sites within Baltimore. Increasing antibody prevalence and high titers were associated with increasing rat weight and sexual maturity. Our results show that infection of rats by a Hantaan-like virus is widespread in Baltimore. Antibody in rats may be due to infections acquired during maturation or the delayed seroconversion of rats infected prior to weaning.

Research paper thumbnail of Robust statisitics for spatial analysis: the center of activity

Research paper thumbnail of Seasonal and Habitat Differences in Growth Rates of Wild Rattus norvegicus

Journal of Mammalogy, 1988

... South-western Nat., 25:215-224. HICKMAN, GC, AND LN BROWN. 1973. ... GREGORY E. GLASS, GEORGE... more ... South-western Nat., 25:215-224. HICKMAN, GC, AND LN BROWN. 1973. ... GREGORY E. GLASS, GEORGE W. KORCH, AND JAMES E. CHILDS Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205 ...

Research paper thumbnail of CLOSED SESSION Teleconference and Webinar by Invitation ONLY Wednesday, May 23 2012 1:00pm - 3:00pm Eastern Time Agenda Welcome and Introductions 1:00 pm - 1:15 pm Call to Order and Roll Call

Research paper thumbnail of NBACC's Scientific Research and Operational Posture During the 2020–2021 COVID-19 Pandemic

Applied Biosafety, 2022

Introduction: The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) is a national r... more Introduction: The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) is a national resource established to understand the scientific basis of the risk posed by biological threats, and to analyze evidentiary material from bioterror or biocrime events. Like many other U.S. research institutions, the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and rapid development of the COVID-19 pandemic allowed only a few short weeks of preparations before infectious disease controls could be implemented. Due to the nature of its mission, the NBACC must be available on a 24/7 readiness posture to support bioforensic casework from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It also serves to provide the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with key scientific data to assess the hazard from biological agents, especially in this instance to inform the national response to COVID-19. These factors caused the operational tempo to significantly increase. Methods: To accomplish our mission during a national emergency, laboratory staffing levels needed to be maintained at prepandemic levels. As a result, the Battelle National Biodefense Institute (BNBI) leadership took significant actions to prevent COVID-19 exposure and transmission within the workforce. These multiple actions included engineering changes to the facility, stockpiling of personal protective equipment and consumable products, educating the staff on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, reducing the population of the nonlaboratory staff, and the completion of a comprehensive risk assessment to quantify the risk of COVID-19 infection for all NBACC staff. Conclusion: These early actions, used in tandem, were successful in maintaining a healthy and stable workforce so that BNBI's research objectives could be met.

Research paper thumbnail of What Can History Teach Us about the Next Pandemic

Research paper thumbnail of Evidence of Human Infection with a Rat-Associated Hantavirus in Baltimore, Maryland

American Journal of Epidemiology, 1988

Human sera obtained from two sources in Baltimore were tested for antibodies against a Hantavirus... more Human sera obtained from two sources in Baltimore were tested for antibodies against a Hantavirus by a variety of techniques. Four persons out of 1,788 had hantaviral antibody as demonstrated by immunofluorescent assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and neutralizing assay. Neutralizing antibody titrations against three test viruses indicated that infections were caused by a rat-associated virus. Medical histories of two subjects indicated life-long residence in Baltimore and an absence of foreign travel, implicating a local source of infection.

Research paper thumbnail of Epizootiology of Hantavirus Infections in Baltimore: Isolation of a Virus from Norway Rats, and Characteristics of Infected Rat Populations

American Journal of Epidemiology, 1987

Rats trapped from 14 locations in Baltimore, Maryland, were shown to have antibody to Hantavirus.... more Rats trapped from 14 locations in Baltimore, Maryland, were shown to have antibody to Hantavirus. Antibody prevalence rates were higher in residential locations than in parks. Infected rats were obtained continuously over a six-year period from 1980-1985 at five locations, indicating the enzootic nature of this infection in urban rats in the United States. Prevalence of antibody and geometric mean titers increased with rat mass and sexual maturity, suggesting that infections in rats are acquired through age-related mechanisms. Three isolates of Hantavirus were obtained from rats. One of these isolates was shown by serologic tests and monoclonal antibody reactivity patterns to be similar, if not identical, to rat virus previously obtained from Philadelphia. The presence of rats in many urban settings and the high prevalence of Hantavirus infection in this species suggest that human exposure to this virus is occurring in the United States, although human disease from this exposure has not been recognized.

Research paper thumbnail of Body Mass as a Measure of Body Size in Small Mammals

Journal of Mammalogy, 1989

... CHARLOTTE ISKJAER, NORMAN A. SLADE, JAMES E. CHILDS, GREGORY E. GLASS ... Fecundity and postw... more ... CHARLOTTE ISKJAER, NORMAN A. SLADE, JAMES E. CHILDS, GREGORY E. GLASS ... Fecundity and postweaning survival of young are related to maternal body size in Peromyscus maniculatus (Myers and Master, 1983), and the survival ability of nestling Peromyscus ...

Research paper thumbnail of Association of intraspecific wounding with hantaviral infection in wild rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Epidemiology and Infection, 1988

SUMMARYThe potential for hantaviral transmission among wild Norway rats by wounding associated wi... more SUMMARYThe potential for hantaviral transmission among wild Norway rats by wounding associated with aggressive interactions was evaluated using a prospective sero-epidemiological study coupled with a mark-release-recapture survey. There was a significant association between an animal's serological status and the presence of wounds. Longitudinal studies of marked and released animals showed sero-conversion between captures was associated with wounding between captures more often (33%) than expected by chance, while unwounded animals seroconverted less often (8%) than expected. Typically, less than a 5% difference was found when comparing the incidence of seroconversion with the predicted rate based on wounding and seroprevalence. Infection was highly associated with the onset of sexual maturity and aggression but decoupled from rat age and the length of environmental exposure. Seroconversions occurred at times most associated with aggressive encounters and least associated with a...